Absconding SHO surrenders in bribery case

Sukhpal Singh, a former station house officer (SHO) posted at Mehtiana police station, who was absconding for the last about one year surrendered in a court. He was sent to judicial custody on Saturday.

Sukhpal Singh, a former station house officer (SHO) posted at Mehtiana police station, who was absconding for the last about one year surrendered in a court. He was sent to judicial custody on Saturday.

Interestingly the honour killing case in which he was accused of taking money from the girl's father, was closed several months ago after a court acquitted father and co accused for want of evidence.

A 22-year-old girl Bhupinderjit Kaur of Dhiangarh village, who had married Manjinder Singh, a folk singer of Salempur village, against the wishes of her family, was allegedly killed by her father Makhan Singh and his aide Harcharan Singh by setting her on fire in July last year.

Manjinder had alleged that Mehtiana SHO Sukhpal Singh, instead of registering the case, took Rs. 7.80 lakh from the accused and let them go scot free, he said. A probe conducted by Chabbewal deputy superintendent of police (DSP) confirmed that bribery was paid to the SHO after which a case was registered against the latter.

Complainant Manjinder Singh, later turned hostile and deposed in favour of girl's father who was acquitted by the court. However, the man, who claimed to have paid the money to the SHO, stood ground and gave a confessional statement in the court under Section 164 of CrPC.